Residents 'slam' new parking charges at Mansfield Woodhouse car park

Mansfield Woodhouse railway station car park is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

A parking fee of £2 now applies between 6am and 10am, with the car park is free to use at other times, with Mansfield Council saying “small charges” are needed to sustain the “long-term use” of the site.

A council spokesman said a survey was conducted in July 2021 and feedback showed the car park was popular with residents visiting Oxclose Woods.

The council said four-hour morning charges were brought in to prevent impacting free access to the walking trails during the day.

However, Daisy Papila, a Mansfield resident who frequently uses the car park, said she was shocked to find multiple vehicles fined for parking at the site.

She said: “This car park has been free for years and many of us were completely unaware of these changes.

“Surely more signs and updates need to be issued before cars are fined. There is a cost-of-living crisis, many people are struggling and cannot afford these fines.”

Ben Brown, who is standing for election for the Conservatives in Mansfield Council’s West Bank ward, slammed the parking fees as “grossly unfair.”

In one social media post, the 31-year-old urged residents to be careful of the “parking jobsworths” when parking on the site.

He said: “You only have to look at my posts to see how many people are receiving parking tickets – it is clear there are a vast number of people unaware of the new charges.

“They are being caught out. There are no proper signs at the entrance to the car park.

“As a solicitor, I can say the council will be on shaky ground if people start challenging these tickets on the grounds they were unaware of the charges.”

However, Carol Rawley, the wife of a Mansfield parking enforcement officer, branded Mr Brown’s words as “disgusting” and said he was “deliberately trying to stir up hate” in the run-up to the the May 4 election.

She said “jobsworths" was a “highly offensive” term for people who are “simply doing their job”, and said it was worrying Mr Brown suggested “clogging up streets” around the station.

A council spokesman said: “Small charges help sustain the long-term use of the car park and provide staffing and essential maintenance to ensure everyone can remain safe.

“Variation notices explaining updated car park fees and charges were on display from July.”

The council said it was sourcing additional pay-and-display signage for key spots at the car park, including the entrance.

Mr Brown added: “A ‘jobsworth’ is defined as an official who upholds petty rules even at the expense of humanity or common sense.

“These parking charges were brought in by Mansfield Council without proper consultation, without proper notice, and only for the hours of 6-10am, which specifically target those commuting to work or education.

“I stand by my comments. The rules are unfair. The rules are petty. The rules are deceptive.

“Any parking enforcement officer who enforces them at the expense of innocent commuters is indeed a jobsworth.”